Summary
Over the top drama, exaggerated emotions, high stakes, sensational situations… Gip’s wildly popular adaptation of this Edgar Allan Poe short story was a huge hit in 1990. Gip passed away recently and his creative influence extended to many, many artists in Lower Cape theater. We have chosen to mount this production to honor Gip’s early work, and incredibly fertile creative energy.
Don’t miss Cape Cod Chronicle Night in the Barn on Thursday, October 1, 6:30 pm.
Come meet members of the creative staff for The Fall of the House of Usher hosted by the Cape Cod Chronicle. Have a beverage and a little nibble before the show and enjoy discussing the creative process.
This show is not recommended for children. PG-13,
Sponsored by:
Cast
Nathaniel Hall Taylor (Ed Allen) is thrilled to make his Cape Rep debut! Recent credits include John Landis in Lanford Wilson’s Fifth of July (Provincetown Theater directed by David Drake) and readings of Jeff Zinn’s The Time Machine: A People’s History of the Future (Two Acts of Resistance) and James Carrol’s THE DEMOCRACY THEATER PROJECT OF WRITERS FOR DEMOCRATIC ACTION PRESENTS JANUARY 6: A DAY FOREVER both on the Julie Harris Stage at WHAT. Other credits: Meryl Cohn’s The Fade Away Advantage (Alfred) directed by Rebecca Berger, August: Osage County (Sheriff) directed by David Drake, and Hamlet (Polonius) directed by Jake Ford. Favorite credits include Oberon in Peregrine Theater Ensemble’s co-production of Midsummer Nights Dream and originating the role of Edward Hopper in Hopper’s Ghost’s by Kevin Rice at Payomet Performing Arts. He grew up between Cambridge and Wellfleet and was steeped in the early days of WHAT and the zany genius of Gip Hoppe and is deeply honored to be here now. Training: Chris Fields Studio (LA), Circle in the Square School (NY)
Ari Lew (Dr. Dumas) has been in over 30 productions at Cape Rep! Recently in The Real Inspector Hound, The SpongeBob Musical, She Loves Me, and Sunday in the Park with George. Also recently seen in The Mousetrap (Harbor Stage Company), and Second Act (WHAT). New York: Metropolitan Opera, Playwrights Horizons, Players Theater, WPPAC. Regional: Harbor Stage Company, WHAT, Priscilla Beach Theatre, SKyPAC, FPTC, Fort Peck Summer Theatre. He has performed the one man show Fully Committed at Cotuit Center for the Arts for 4 successful runs. He worked many years with Macy’s Parade and Entertainment Group being featured as the “Man in Red” at Macy’s on 34th Street and as the Fischer Price Toy Soldier in the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Day parade. Much love and thanks to his wife Holly Hansen for putting up with his nonsense.
Mike Steers (Roderick Usher) is a graduate of the HARTT school’s BFA Musical Theater Program. Performance Credits include: Herbie (Gypsy) Cheri (Women Behind Bar’s), Bobby (Company), Billy (42nd Street), The Witch (Into the Woods). Scenic Design credits include The Medium, The Weight of Water (NYC/PTown), Chicago, Heathers:The Musical, The Laramie Project, Seussical, Oklahoma (Massasoit Community College), Sex With Strangers, Nevermore, Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story (WHAT) Whose Afraid…Wolfe, Lion in Winter, Lobby Hero (Counter Productions) Oliver, Gods of Carnage (Provincetown Theater Foundation), Venus in Furs (CTEK ART’S), Director Credits: BENT (Provincetown Theater Foundation), Company, Closer Than Ever (Counter Productions). Mike lives with his husband Neal in Eastham and moonlights as Anita Cocktail. Follow the socials: AnitaCocktailPT and MikeSteersDesigns both on Instagram.
Jefferson Thomas (Jerome) grew up acting in productions at WHAT, The Academy Playhouse, and The Provincetown Theater, but has spent the last decade in Portland, Oregon, where he trained at Act Now Studio and was represented by RyanArtists. In Portland Jefferson mostly focused on film, both behind and in front of the camera, his last film The Dark Veil won Best Horror Film at the Oregon Independent Film Festival. Jefferson returned to Cape Cod this summer and is quite grateful to be doing theater again.
Colin Bourget (Manfredo) is quite tickled, nay- entirely thrilled to be performing in his first show on the Cape Rep mainstage. Many have said he would never do it, that this Worcester boy stood less than a chance against the titans of the Cape. And where are they now? No seriously where are they now. He’d like to see them out back. Colin would like to dedicate this performance to the two individuals who have inspired him most through his latest career ego death: John O’Meara and Izaak Van Der Wende. Both men stand as muses, critics, allies, and comrades in Colin’s artistic journey. Thank you lads, here’s to us. Enjoy the show!
Jenn Pina* (Constance) has been an actor, dancer, director, teacher or student in theaters (and parks, street corners, studios…) from California to New York, Massachusetts to Louisiana on and off for over 45 years. Since 2003, she has worked as an executive coach, using theatre-based techniques to help leaders around the globe hone their ability to connect with their audiences. Her client list is extensive, and includes such institutions as Harvard Business School, Wellington Management, Bain Capital, TED, The Ariel Group, and UP Education Network. Jenn is co-founder and co-artistic director of ÁSA Theatre, which co-produced Much Ado / About Nothing with Cape Rep in 2021. Over the decades Jenn has taught extensively – from creative movement for pre-schoolers, to devised and experimental theatre techniques for teens and adults, to the art of storytelling for leaders across sectors and continents. Jenn’s teaching style balances rigor with compassion, and both informs and draws upon ÁSA Theatre’s tenets of authenticity, specificity and abandon. Jenn grew up at Cape Cod Theatre Company/Harwich Jr Theatre, where she has had the honor of serving as Producing Artistic Director for the past 3 years. She is delighted to be back at Cape Rep. Member AEA.
*Appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Jack Kerig (Mr. Allen) is a Cape actor who first stepped on the stage over 50 years ago. He just appeared in this summer’s production of Girl from the North Country, with past productions including Bottom of the Sky, Our Country’s Good, and Much Ado About Nothing. Thanks to all the Cape Rep staff and artists, but especially to his wife and partner Julie as this is the third time we have portrayed a married couple on stage. Its almost become a hobby.
Julie Allen Hamilton (Mrs. Allen) met Bob Troie in 1992 and never looked back. This show marks her 39th with Cape Rep Theatre as an actor, director or stage manager. Julie is also the box office and front of house manager, and leads the Bold Company. Delighted to share the stage with her husband, and grateful for the love and support of her family… she is happy to honor Gip Hoppe’s legacy with this wonderful company!
Creative
James P. Byrne (Director) has been directing, designing, teaching and acting in theater on Cape Cod since 1975. And all across the country… Wheelock Family Theater. Goldust Orphans. Louisiana Children’s Theater. El Pueblo Gallery NYC. Dinosaur Performance.
Ryan McGettigan (Scenic Design) is a Houston-based scenic designer of theater, opera, and dance working across the country and Europe. He is the Resident Designer at Cape Rep Theatre, where he has designed over 25 sets, as well as a Company Artist with Prague Shakespeare Company and the Classical Theatre Company of Houston. Regional Credits: Theatre under the Stars, Stages Repertory Theatre, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Shakespeare & Company, Cape Rep, Abilene Shakespeare Festival, Legacy Theatre, Prague Shakespeare Company. Opera and Dance: Glimmerglass Festival, New Orleans Opera, Opera San Jose, HGOco, Open Dance Project, and the Houston Ballet.
Cathleen (Cat) Perry (Costume Design) Cat earned a master’s degree in Costume Design from North Carolina School of the Arts. Freelance design work took her to many different venues and places including an assistant costume design residency at Opera Theater St. Louis and assisting on several national tours. She was the resident costume designer for the FSU Conservatory master’s program at the Asolo Theater in Sarasota Florida. While she was there, she honed her cutter/draper skills for The REP where she was able to work on Broadway bound shows like A Tale of Two Cities and The Plexiglass Slipper. Her costume design for Mirandolina earned her the J. Handlemann critic’s choice award for best costume design in the Tampa Bay area. Life and family took her to Pittsburgh where she started her twelve year teaching career for the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University. She also held the Master Cutter Draper position at the Pittsburgh Playhouse where she mentored students in both design and costume technology. Her favorite design works include: Pinkalicious, House of Bernarda Alba, Kiss Me, Kate, Cabaret, Stone Soup, Lost Boy Found in Whole Foods, Hecuba, Little Children Dream of God and several others. While in Pittsburgh, she also designed for the CLO outreach program “Gallery of Heros” as well as shows for the Pittsburgh CLO Cabaret Theater which include Ring of Fire – The Music of Johnny Cash, Altar Boys and First Date. Since relocating back to Massachusetts, she designs and teaches at Cape Cod Theater Company, home of the Harwich Jr. Theater where her love for inspiring the next generation of theater crafters was born.
John Malinowski (Lighting Designer) John collaborated with Gip Hoppe across numerous productions including the original 1990 staging of The Fall of the House of Usher, as well as Jackie: An American Life, Future Hollow, and Ruby Tuesday. Since 2012, he has served as the Resident Designer at the Harbor Stage Company in Wellfleet. His work includes lighting designs at WHAT (Daughter of Venus, The Vibrator Play, Oblomov, Pillowman, and Body Awareness among others); the Cape Cod Theatre Company in Harwich, and the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theatre Festival (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof). He has designed premieres at HERE in New York, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Central Square Theater, New Repertory Theatre, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, and the American Stage Festival in Tampa, Florida. In January 2026, he designed My Dinner with Andre in New York for the Harbor Stage Company. A recipient of the TCG Career Development Grant (2000–2002), he has also been honored with two Elliot Norton Awards, most recently for Angels in America (Parts 1 and 2) at Central Square Theater. He held faculty positions at Brandeis University, Northeastern University, and Suffolk University. He is indebted to Gip for inspiring and nurturing him as an artist.
J Hagenbuckle (Sound Design & Music) is a free-lance sound designer/composer/musician whose career began at W.H.A.T. in 1988. J worked closely on most of Gip Hoppe’s plays with him including the original 1990 production of The Fall of the House of Usher and the Cape Cod, Cambridge, Boston, Broadway and London productions of Jackie: An American Life. J is the creator of Cape Noir Radio Theater. W.O.M.R. radio in Provincetown broadcasts and streams worldwide these 30 minute original and adapted radio plays weekly. All episodes from Season 1 and 2 can be found on the W.O.M.R./Cape Noir podcast page. Season 3, with 15 new episodes, debuts this October 15th including a six-part series, Thoreau’s Cape Cod, featuring never before heard music from Hoppe’s personal collection of original compositions. J is an Elliot Norton Award recipient, an NEA/TCG Design Fellow and holds a Masters Degree in Theater Sound from Brandeis University.
Kaleigh Mason (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be returning to her happy place once again to help manage the stage with an incredible director, cast, and crew! This is her 4th show she has worked on this season at Cape Rep! Including 9-Ball, The Real Inspector Hound and Girl From the North Country here at Cape Rep! Kaleigh would love to thank the cast and crew of The Fall of the House of Usher for working so hard to put on such a wonderful show! Special Shoutout to Brielle Whalen for her incredible support throughout this process!
Gallery
Photos By: Bob Tucker/Focalpoint Studio